Wofford freshman Butler wins spring QB competition

In a mysterious whodunit regarding which Wofford quarterback played best during spring practice and will go into fall camp at the top of the depth chart, it turned out to be a redshirt freshman.

By TODD SHANESYtodd.shanesy@shj.com

Butler did it.In a mysterious whodunit regarding which Wofford quarterback played best during spring practice and will go into fall camp at the top of the depth chart, it turned out to be a redshirt freshman who has never taken a college snap.Brad Butler came out ahead of classmate Brandon Goodson, rising junior Michael Weimer and rising sophomore Evan Jacks, who started the final four games of last season but was shuffled to the back of a tight four-way race during spring drills, which ended more than two weeks ago. It took this long to figure out the pecking order.“This was a very close competition during the spring,” Wofford quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Wade Lang said. “Over the course of 15 practices, there were only eight plays that separated the top from the bottom.”Butler, from Rome, Ga., was a four-year starter at Darlington School, where he accounted for more than 70 touchdowns and nearly 7,000 yards. But he was largely considered, at least from the outside, fourth heading into spring practice. Jacks, although he didn't win a game as the starter, appeared to be grooming for the spot. Weimer, who was No. 2 behind now-graduated James Lawson before suffering a serious knee injury, is fully healthy. Goodson started the final two scrimmages and had been seen as an exciting playmaker.“It really doesn't matter what people see,” Butler said during the final week of spring practice. “The only thing that matters is what Coach Lang sees. I think I've proven myself. … Everybody is athletic. Everybody can throw. Everybody can run. I think we've all been back and forth.”It still could be any of the four taking the first snap of the season Aug. 30 when the Terriers play at Georgia Tech. Last year's constant three-way battle between Lawson, Weimer and Jacks could end up being less confusing than what lies ahead this season. Lang said he would like one of the quarterbacks to pull decisively ahead, but that never happened in 2013, when the Terriers finished 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Conference.“It's nice to be in this,” Butler said. “Last season, being a redshirt guy, you're on the team, but you're running the scout team and not really being given a chance to compete. So this spring has been great.”Wofford, which lost two all-conference offensive linemen, Jared Singleton and Ty Gregory (Greer High School), as well as four others who were projected to be in the lineup but gave up fifth years of eligibility, will be young across the front. There are no seniors.Right guard T.J. Chamberlin (rising junior) and right tackle Anton Wahrby (sophomore) will return on that side of center, which is projected to be sophomore Bradley Way or redshirt freshman Roo Daniels. Two redshirt freshmen, Davis Lenoir and Mike Jones, are listed as the left tackles on the depth chart, with sophomore DeQuan Miller being backed up by redshirt freshman Justin Lott at guard. Redshirt freshman Chuck Rouse and junior Jeff Tucker are the backups at right guard. Sophomores Tye Youngblood and Robert Massey are behind Wahrby at right tackle.On defense, a pair of redshirt freshmen emerged as No. 1 on the depth chart. Terrance Morris came out ahead of sophomore Dylan Young at outside linebacker and Cole Higbie ahead of junior Zack Cole at strong safety.Junior defensive lineman Tom Bove, junior defensive end Darius Burton and sophomore linebacker Lincoln Stewart were not on the depth chart because they were limited in spring practice because of injuries.DEPTH CHART(Official list from coaches)OFFENSEQB Brad Butler, Fr.-2 (6-2, 210); Brandon Goodson, Fr.-2 (6-0, 185); Michael Weimer, Jr. (6-5, 215); Evan Jacks, So. (1-0, 195)FB Jonny Martin, Jr. (5-10, 198); Lorenzo Long, So. (5-9, 205)HB Will Gay, Jr. (5-9, 191); Ray Smith, Jr. (5-7, 185) or Nick Colvin, So. (6-2, 195)HB Octavius Harden, Jr. (5-9, 185); Cam Flowers, Jr. (5-8, 170)WR Will Irwin, Jr. (6-2, 195); Wade Francis, Jr. (6-3, 208)TE Zach Muller, Jr. (6-3, 240) or Taylor Bragg, So. (6-3, 212)LT Davis Lenoir, Fr.-2 (6-3, 255); Mike Jones, Fr.-2 (6-4, 270)LG Dequan Miller, So. (6-2, 206); Justin Lott, Fr.-2 (6-5, 315)C Bradley Way, So. (6-2, 280) or Roo Daniels, Fr.-2 (6-2, 270)RG T.J. Chamberlin, Jr. (6-2, 293); Chuck Rouse, Fr.-2 (6-3, 305) or Jeff Tucker, Jr. (6-1, 260)RT Anton Wahrby, So. (6-4, 290); Tye Youngblood, So. (6-4, 280) or Robert Massey, So. (6-3, 270)DEFENSELDE Boston Bryant, So. (6-1, 250); Steven Cornellier, Fr.-2 (6-2, 225)NT E.J. Speller, Jr. (6-2, 290); Chris Boudreaux, So. (6-2, 250)RDE Tarek Odom, Sr. (5-10, 258); Tyler Vaughn, Fr.-2 (6-1, 260)OLB Travis Thomas, Sr. (6-9, 230); Daryl Vining, Fr.-2 (6-2, 218)ILB Kevin Thomas, Sr. (6-3, 235); Pfifer Nicholson, So. (6-1, 215)ILB Jim Dolinak, So. (6-2, 230); Drake Michaelson, Jr. (6-1, 208)OLB Terrance Morris, Fr.-2 (6-1, 192); Dylan Young, So. (6-1, 215)CB Bernard Williams, Sr. (5-9, 180); Josh Grimes, So. (5-9, 180)SS Cole Higbie, Fr.-2 (6-0, 180); Zack Cole, Jr. (6-2, 208)FS Jaleel Green, So. (6-2, 192); Philemon Permis, Jr. (6-1, 199)CB Brion Anderson, Jr. (5-121, 195); Chris Armfield, So. (5-11, 170)SPEICALISTSKO/PK/P David Marvin, Fr.-2 (6-2, 200)LS/SS Michael Comer, Jr. (6-2, 300)HLD Brian Sanders, So. (6-3, 190)KOR Nick Colvin, So. (6-2, 195); Lorenzo Long, So. (5-9, 205)PR Will Gay, Jr. (5-9, 191)

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